Ways to Get HPV
Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is one of the most common viral infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Mayo Clinic For Medical Education and Research, there are 6.2 million new cases of HPV infection each year in the U.S. alone.
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Identification
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There are roughly 100 strains of HPV, all of which have similar characteristics and symptoms. HPV typically lives in the skin of the genital areas, although, it can also be found elsewhere on the body, such as the mouth.
Prevalence
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According to the CDC, approximately half of all sexually active adults will contract HPV during their lifetime. Additionally, there are approximately 20 million Americans with active infection at any given time.
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Spreading HPV
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HPV typically lives in the skin of infected persons and is spread by direct skin to skin contact with infected areas. This typically occurs during sexual contact.
Non-Sexual Contact
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According to the American Cancer Society HPV has been reported in rare cases in people who have not had sexual intercourse. At the present, medical researchers are uncertain as to how these infections happen.
Bodily Fluids
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Interestingly, HPV is not spread through contact with bodily fluids. This is because HPV lives in the skin of infected people.
Respiratory Papillomatosis
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Respiratory papillomatosis occurs when, in extremely rare cases, HPV is transmitted from mother to child during birth. This typically happens when the newborn comes into contact with the vagina of the infected mother. RRP is named such because of the warts that occur in the throat of an infected infant.
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